Picture two sisters, weaving tales of murder and mystery amidst the cobblestone charm of 19th-century Paris—meet Claude Izner! This pseudonym belongs to Liliane Korb and Laurence Lefèvre, former booksellers turned bestselling authors whose Victor Legris mystery series has enchanted readers worldwide. With a knack for blending historical detail and pulse-pounding plots, they’ve carved a niche in the historical mystery genre, inviting us to stroll Paris’s shadowy streets alongside a sleuthing bookseller.
From their bookstalls along the Seine, Liliane and Laurence crafted stories that feel like a literary time machine, whisking readers to a Paris buzzing with artists, rogues, and secrets. Their unique perspective as booksellers and Paris enthusiasts shines through, making their work a love letter to the City of Light’s belle époque era.
The Making of Claude Izner
Born in Paris—Liliane in 1940 and Laurence in 1951—the Korb sisters grew up immersed in stories. Liliane trained as a film editor before joining Laurence, an archaeology enthusiast, in the world of second-hand bookselling along the Seine. Their shared passion for literature and Parisian history sparked a creative partnership. Before adopting the Claude Izner pseudonym, they co-wrote adventure novels, suspense, and even children’s books, honing a versatile storytelling style. Their intimate knowledge of Paris’s past, paired with a love for detective fiction, set the stage for their breakout series.
Claude Izner’s Unforgettable Stories
The Victor Legris series, launched in 2003, stars a charismatic bookseller-turned-detective navigating the gritty glamour of 1890s Paris. In Murder on the Eiffel Tower, the series’ debut, Legris investigates mysterious deaths during the 1889 World Exposition, unraveling a web of deceit against the backdrop of the newly unveiled Eiffel Tower. This bestseller hooked readers with its vivid setting and clever plotting, earning praise for evoking Paris’s vibrant art scene and cosmopolitan pulse.
Subsequent novels, like The Père-Lachaise Mystery, dive deeper into Legris’s world, where a missing widow leads to a chilling cemetery conspiracy. The Montmartre Investigation introduces the Moulin Rouge and artist Toulouse-Lautrec, blending real historical figures with fictional intrigue. In the Shadows of Paris tackles a vengeful killer in 1893, showcasing the sisters’ knack for complex characters and atmospheric tension. Their style—rich with period detail, witty dialogue, and intricate puzzles—appeals to fans of Agatha Christie and Anne Perry, offering a distinctly Parisian twist.
The series, translated into eight languages and selling over a million copies, reflects the sisters’ expertise in 19th-century Paris. From bustling cafés to seedy alleys, their prose paints a city alive with possibility and peril, making each book a historical adventure as much as a mystery.
Why Claude Izner Matters
Claude Izner’s impact lies in their ability to transport readers to a bygone Paris, blending meticulous research with storytelling flair. Their Victor Legris series not only entertains but also preserves the cultural tapestry of belle époque France, introducing readers to historical figures like Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Bertillon. By rooting their mysteries in real places and events, they’ve inspired a global fandom, with their books celebrated in France and beyond through Gallic Books and Minotaur editions.
The sisters’ journey from booksellers to literary stars also resonates, proving that passion and persistence can redefine a genre. Despite Liliane’s passing in 2022, their legacy endures, with Laurence continuing to craft stories that captivate and charm.
- Born: Liliane Korb (1940–2022), Laurence Lefèvre (1951)
- Key Works: Murder on the Eiffel Tower, The Père-Lachaise Mystery, The Montmartre Investigation
- Awards: Prix de la Société des Gens de Lettres (1995, for earlier work)
Snag Murder on the Eiffel Tower and dive into Claude Izner’s thrilling world of historical mysteries! Let Victor Legris guide you through a Paris where every corner hides a secret.